Right tackle Jack Conklin, who became an All-Pro as a rookie and returned to form this past season, has signed with the Browns.
Here are five things to know about the Browns' newest addition to the offensive line.
1. Conklin comes to Cleveland after four seasons in Tennessee, where he started 57 of a possible 64 games. He made an immediate impact for the Titans and, even as a rookie, was viewed as one of the league's best players at the position. He was named first-team All-Pro in 2016 as the Titans improved their record by six wins, going from 3-13 to 9-7. He helped the Titans rank among the NFL leaders in multiple rushing categories from 2016-19, including rushing touchdowns (70, tied for third), rushing yards (8,266, fourth) and rushing average (4.55, fifth).
2. Conklin and the Titans made the playoffs in 2017, but his year came to an unfortunate end when he tore his ACL in a loss to the Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round. The timing wasn't ideal, as Conklin wasn't able to return until Week 4 of the 2018 season. He appeared in just nine games because of another knee injury that ended his season in Week 14. When it came time for the Titans to decide whether or not to pick up Conklin's fifth-year option, Tennessee ultimately declined.
Check out photos of tackle Jack Conklin
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) rushes against Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Cleveland. Tennessee won 43-13. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin (74) speaks during the media day for the NCAA Cotton Bowl college football game Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) in a two-point stance on the line of scrimmage against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Baltimore. The Titans won 28-12. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin holds up his jersey on stage after he is selected by the Tennessee Titans as the eighth overall pick during the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre on Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Chicago. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) in a two-point stance on the line of scrimmage against the New England Patriots during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. The Titans won 20-13.(Perry Knotts via AP)
Michigan State tight end Josiah Price (82) and offensive tackle Jack Conklin (74) hold up the Paul Bunyan trophy after defeating Michigan 27-23 in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, in Ann Arbor, Mich. The trophy goes to the winner of the game between the two schools. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Jack Conklin (78) blocks during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday Dec. 15, 2019 in Nashville. The Texans defeated the Titans 24-21. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan (77), nose tackle Al Woods (96) and offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) celebrate after kicker Ryan Succop (not shown) scored the winning field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Jack Conklin (78) and Nate Davis (64) look to block during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The Texans beat the Titans 24-21. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) lines up on the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville won 20-7. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Tennessee Titans tackle Jack Conklin (78) blocks during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019 in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers defeated the Titans 30-20. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) looks up from the sideline with his helmet off during a NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019 in Oakland, Calif. The Titans won the game 42-21. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) runs around the edge as Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) blocks during an NFL preseason football game, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. Pittsburgh won 18-6. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin sets up to block in action during a NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Kansas City, Mo. The Titans won, 19-17. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) lines up prior to the snap during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee won 36-22. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Michigan State offensive lineman Jack Conklin runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan State offensive lineman Jack Conklin (74) prepares to block against Western Michigan during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Kalamazoo, Mich. Michigan State won 37-24. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Tennessee Titans tackle Jack Conklin (78) blocks during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, Pittsburgh. The Steelers defeated the Titans 40-17. (Al Tielemans via AP)
Michigan State offensive lineman Jack Conklin before a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Michigan State’s Jack Conklin poses for photos with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by Tennessee Titans as the eighth pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 28, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Tennessee Titans rookie offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) gets set to block Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) during the 2016 NFL week 14 regular season football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016 in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won the game 13-10. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Michigan State offensive lineman Jack Conklin during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) runs during a week 8 NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Oct 27, 2016, in Nashville. The Titans won 36-22. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin sets up to block in action against the Kansas City Chiefs during a NFL AFC Wildcard football game on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, in Kansas City, Mo. The Titans won, 22-21. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) ready in his stance as he awaits the snap of the football during a week 1 NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, in Nashville. The Vikings won 25-16. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) blocks Chicago Bears outside linebacker Pernell McPhee (92) during an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016 in Chicago. Tennessee won 27-21. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Michigan State offensive lineman Jack Conklin poses for a photo during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) looks on as he stands with team mates while the National Anthem is sung during a week 8 NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Oct 27, 2016, in Nashville. The Titans won 36-22. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) blocks during a week 1 preseason NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 27-10. (Scott Boehm via AP)
3. Conklin's 2019 season, though, looked a lot like his first two. His true pass grade, according to Pro Football Focus, made a big jump, and the Titans boasted one of the league's most dominant running attacks, which would carry the team to the AFC Championship. Conklin's run grade of 78.1 over four seasons is the 12th-best of any tackle during that stretch. Per PFF's John Kosko, Conklin has a 84.6 grade on wide-zone run blocking over the past two years, a mark that ranks third-best in the league during that time period.
4. Conklin's path toward becoming the No. 8 selection in the NFL Draft is a memorable one. He did not have any Division I scholarship offers out of Plainwell (Mich.) High School and planned to attend Fork Union Military Academy before he was persuaded to enroll at Michigan State as a walk-on. He earned a scholarship after redshirting his first season and paid the Spartans back in a big way by landing a starting job on the offensive line. Conklin started his first three games at right tackle before shifting to the left side for the remainder of his college career. He became Michigan State's first offensive lineman to be drafted in the first round since Tony Mandarich in 1989.
5. Conklin played for his father, Darren, in high school while also starring on the basketball team and in track and field. Conklin played on both sides of the ball and led his team with 80 tackles as a defensive end in his senior season. As a center on the hardwood, Conklin averaged a double-double in his senior season (17.2 points, 10.4 rebounds).
